August 9, 2004

'Text tax' sparks cyber-protest in Philippines

A consumer group on Monday said it would lead the first ever cyber-protest in the Philippines to denounce government plans to tax mobile phone text messaging, according to the Manilla Bulletin Online.

"The group has posted a petition on the Internet and asked supporters to add their names to the document asking Congress to scrap the tax measure aimed at generating revenues to help plug a budget deficit.

Mobile phone users can sign up to join the protest by sending an SMS to a dedicated cellular phone number which would collect all messages. The petition is then going to be passed to Congress.

The campaign is headed by TxtPower, which is composed of professionals and students who claim to represent a major portion of the country's millions of mobile phone owners.